January 21, 2011 Playlist

"Alive!" by KISS (1975)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
KISS  "Alive!"  1975 (USA)
OOOHH YEAHHH, I HEARD THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE HERE TO-NIGHT WHO LIKE TO PARTAY AN ROCKANDROOOOLLLLLL, AWLRIGHT LEMME HEAR YAAA!!!!!  Yesterday (January 20) marked the 59th birthday of my favorite Rock'n'Roll Clown, KISS frontman Paul "The Starchild" Stanley (who was born under the slightly less cool name Stanley Harvey Eisen.)  The notorious comic book supergroup KISS should need no introduction -- they have become an iconic marketing behemoth, perhaps to the point where their musical contributions have been overlooked.  During their mid-70's heyday, they were the pinnacle of a sort of "masculine glam rock" pioneered by groups like British bootstompers Slade and The New York Dolls (who were a direct inspiration on KISS's formative years, both groups having been founded at about the same time in the same city.)  And no LP better captures the gonzo flash of the band's first era like this breakthrough double live album.  In truth, Stanley and his partner Gene "The Demon" Simmons wrote some fine rock tunes, and KISS has always displayed a sly sense of humour that often seems lost on their critics and detractors (the only thing they're serious about is "having a good time, all the time" OOOHHH YEEAAHHHH!!!!)
Here are video clips of KISS in 1975, performing songs from the Alive! album: "She" featuring guitar wankery from Ace "The Spaceman" Frehley, and the set closing anthem "Black Diamond".  The band put on a great show back then, but over the years the spectacle has only become more and more over the top, as this 1996 performance of "Rock 'n' Roll All Nite" shows.  Finally, here's a real treat -- a very rare unreleased song featuring Paul called "I Will Never Go To School"!
 
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
Residual Echoes California Creek Suite
  I. The Log
  II. The Dog
  III. Crackers, Dance
  IV. The Vampyre
 / California
California 2006 USA
 
 
KISS C'mon And Love Me (live) Alive!
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1975 USA
KISS 100,000 Years (live) Alive!
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1975 USA
KISS Black Diamond (live) Alive!
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1975 USA
   
 
Dragon Fagot & Thee Crystal Skulls In Tibet IO (live - with added intro and outro by Paul Stanley) Elegant Empowerment (N) 2010 (Earjerk) USA
Lunar Dunes Hook At The Front (live) unreleased recording (N) rec. 2008? (self release) UK
Lunar Dunes Free To Do forthcoming album "Galaxsea" (N) 2011 (forthcoming on 4Zero) UK
   
 
Black Tempest Starway Secret Astronomies (N) 2011 (Tempest Towers) UK
Antrilon Jungles Of Jogja as yet unreleased (N) 2010 (self release) USA
Unio & Petitio Pine Whisky Wine The Low Zone (Parts 1 & 2) (N) 2010 (self release) UK
Demis CousCous Michelle (The Beatles) Cover Yourself In CousCous (N) 2010 (self release) UK
Demis CousCous What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) Cover Yourself In CousCous (N) 2010 (self release) UK
   
 
Starcastle Fountains Fountains Of Light 1977 USA
Gentle Giant River Octopus 1972 UK
Jade Warrior Waterfall
   / Red Lotus
Floating World 1974 UK
 
 
George Brigman & Split Blowin' Smoke Human Scrawl Vagabond rec. 1977 USA
Redbone Suite Mode Redbone 1970 USA
Show Of Hands I Want To Fly Formerly Anthrax 1970 USA
Sun Araw Hive Burner The Phynx 2008 USA
 
 
Citizens For Interplanetary Activity Untitled (improvised underground film soundtrack) C.I.A. Change rec. 1967, rel. 2001 USA
             
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ROCKNROLL CLOWN OHH YEAH LEMME HEAR YA!!!
      

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